Peter Rolt
Encyclopedia
Peter Rolt was a British
businessman and Conservative Party
politician.
The son of John David Rolt of and his wife Sophia née Butt, he was born in Deptford
. Both of his grandfathers held senior positions in the town's Royal Dockyard. He entered business as a timber merchant and contractor. In 1820 he married Mary Brocklebank, daughter of the managing director of the General Steam Navigation Company, and formed a shipping company, Brocklebank & Rolt, in partnership with his father in law.
In 1852
Rolt was chosen by the Conservative Party
to contest the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich
. The two-seat constituency, which included Rolt's home town of Deptford was held by two Liberal Party
members of parliament. Rolt topped the poll and was elected to the Commons along with Montague Chambers
of the Liberals.
In 1857 Rolt took over C.J. Mare and Company, an engineering and shipbuilding company owned by his son in law, Charles Mare, who had become insolvent. He formed the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd
of which he became chairman. He resigned from parliament by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Hempholme.
Rolt devoted himself to his shipping and shipbuilding interests. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers
and was created a count in the Nobility of Italy
in 1871. He died at his home Trafalgar House in London's Regent's Park
in 1882 aged 83.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
businessman and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
The son of John David Rolt of and his wife Sophia née Butt, he was born in Deptford
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
. Both of his grandfathers held senior positions in the town's Royal Dockyard. He entered business as a timber merchant and contractor. In 1820 he married Mary Brocklebank, daughter of the managing director of the General Steam Navigation Company, and formed a shipping company, Brocklebank & Rolt, in partnership with his father in law.
In 1852
United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
Rolt was chosen by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
to contest the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich
Greenwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Greenwich was a parliamentary constituency in South-East London, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1997 by the first past the post system.-History:...
. The two-seat constituency, which included Rolt's home town of Deptford was held by two Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
members of parliament. Rolt topped the poll and was elected to the Commons along with Montague Chambers
Montague Chambers
Montague Chambers QC was an English lawyer and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1852 and 1874....
of the Liberals.
In 1857 Rolt took over C.J. Mare and Company, an engineering and shipbuilding company owned by his son in law, Charles Mare, who had become insolvent. He formed the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd
Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Limited was a shipyard and iron works straddling the mouth of Bow Creek at its confluence with the River Thames, at Leamouth Wharf on the west side and at Canning Town on the east side...
of which he became chairman. He resigned from parliament by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Hempholme.
Rolt devoted himself to his shipping and shipbuilding interests. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London; it has the formal name of The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London but is more usually known...
and was created a count in the Nobility of Italy
Nobility of Italy
The Nobility of Italy consisted of individuals and their families of Italy recognized by sovereigns, such as the Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy See, Kings of Italy or certain other Italian kings and sovereigns as members of a class of persons officially enjoying hereditary privileges which...
in 1871. He died at his home Trafalgar House in London's Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
in 1882 aged 83.